Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/374

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THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

LOG-BOOK OF THE RANGER.

CONTRIBUTED BY E. P. JEWELL.

Monday, Feb. 15, 1779. This morning begins with light winds and variable. Employed clearing harse and losing our sails to dry. At 12 the cutter came from town with ye first and second lieutenants on board. Brought down a spare mizzen topsail, 1 barrel corn, part of a barrel of rye, with other small trifles. Bent the sprat sail. Sent up in the cutter a spare lower studding sail. Came in a schooner from Newbury, called the Mercury, a privateer. Capt. Seaward, commander. The latter part fresh breezes at S. E.. with snow. Struck both top gallant yards and masts. Received on board forty bushels pota-toes. Came in a prize of sixteen guns belonging to the Miflin, saluted us with thirteen guns; returned one; sent up to town two hhds. to fill water; fired morning and evenings guns.

Tuesday. Feb. ' IG, 1779. This morn-ing begins with cloudy easy weather, wind from S. S. E. to W. S. W. Got up both top gallant masts, and rigged the yards, loosed the courses and stay sails to dry. Expended a new codline for ensign and pendant halyards. Employ-ed washing the decks and scrubbing the ship's sides. Bound and delivered to the boatswain part of a skain twine. Furl-ed topsails. A privateer saluted us; returned one gun.

Wednesday. Feb. 17. 1779. The first part of this twenty-four hours light airs and variable; fair weather the latter part, strong gales from S. E., and thick cloudy weather. A.M. .cleared harse and struck both top gallant masts. Ex-ercised the people with six guns. Re-ceived on board six crows, three iron-bound buckets and several cans, eleven hammocks and several articles of small stores, with one quarter beef. Sent up to the sailmaker, to make hammocks, two bundles sewing twine. Exercised the great guns.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1779. The first part of this day light fluttering breezes from south to S.W.; the middle, fresh gales from west to N.W.; the latter part light winds. Sailed from home. A French brig saluted us, we returned one gun. A.M., up top gallant yards, loosed top and top gallant sails with courses to air. Reefed the top sails and exercised the great guns with the small arms. The cutter returned from town. Received on board sundries for the doc-tor, also a jolly boat load of sand. De- livered Mr. Bunker four yards oznabrigs; four bags received of the steward for sand. The cutter returned from town. Cut a hogshead for the use of the ship.

Friday, Feb. 19, 1779. The first part of this twenty-four hours snowing and blowing very hard, wind from the southward. At 10 A.M., the wind mod-erated, but very foggy at the same time. Brought a hhd. water and 1 ditto rum six inches out. Took on board 3 hhds. water and some planks for the ship's use. People employed clearing harse and sundry other jobs.

A DREAM OF MARGARETTE.

BY WILLIAM C. STUROC.

When six decades of man's brief years Had blanched my nut-brown hair, And life had lost its fellest fears, Mid sunset rich and rare:

I still would dream of fairy sights My youthful eyes had seen, And boyhood's vanish'd dear delights, No time or wave between.

The land of youth is mine once more, Its hopes and raptures free, The smiles and rosy lips of yore, Are fair as fair can be.

But. heart of all my unquench'd joy, Like jewel grandly set, Mid golden light, that charmed the boy, Stands lovely Margarette.

Her ringlets waving o'er her brow, Her sparkling eyes the same As when they flash'd with loveful glow, And waked the tender flame.

Perchance she now, a matron staid. Has sons and daughters fair. But in my trance, that lovely head Has not a silver hair.

Come! hover o'er me, cherished dreams, In which the Past still lives. Nor would I lose those heavenly gleams, For all the Present gives!

It calms my soul, to see that face, Which oft in youth I met, Tho' but in dreamland, robed in grace. Like witching Margarette,